Like a mirror, the round moon cast its yellow light all over the ground. A cool breeze was blowing and the trees swayed in harmony while falling leaves danced in the air. A sigh came from the figure sitting on the long bench in the backyard.
What was wrong with her? She had actually promised to help Dong Mei. She, who had usually avoided being too close to other people, had actually promised to do this. She should have put on her cold expression, then turned around and walked away. This had always been her style in handling all her matters. She sighed again in chagrin.
Was it because of their hopeful faces that had made her soften her stance?
But when did she start to care about other people's opinion?
In short, it seems she was not in control of everything that had happened during this trip down the mountain away from home. She hated this kind of feeling.
"Xiang Yin."
Suddenly, a soft voice called out behind her. Ruan Xiang Yin was startled and turned her head around to meet a pair of black smiling eyes. When did this man arrive? Why didn't she hear his footsteps?
"Can't sleep? The moon is very beautiful tonight."
Dong Fang Tang walked slowly to her side. He raised his head, lifted his hand as if looking through a dark curtain hanging from the sky and looked at the bright moon, enjoying the tranquil moonlit night.
Ruan Xiang Yin did not say a word and looked at the side-view of his handsome face.
Four years ago, they had parted in a hurry and now they meet again. He had not changed much and still had that gentle, refined appearance which had left a deep impression on her.
This man has a special inexplicable characteristic about him that makes people feel secure and want to get close to him.
Born into the affluent Dong Fang Residence, it was unexpected that he would give up his life of luxury and pleasure to practice medicine and made it his responsibility to save people, traveling all over the country. The black and white world* had benefited from his benevolence countless times and as long as the name Divine Doctor, Dong Fang Tang was mentioned, everyone would feel gratitude in their hearts.
(Black and white world ~~ Black represents criminals, triads, bandits while White represents the government and law-enforcers.)
Such a person who is admired and loved by the people is really someone which her father cannot match up to.
"What's wrong?" He realized she was staring at him while deep in thought and he asked with concern.
"Nothing. Why are you here?"
"Like you. I could not sleep, so I came out for a walk."
He did not tell her it was because he had seen her walking out of her bedchamber and felt worried, so he had followed her. After seeing her sitting there alone for a long time and feeling concern for her, he had stepped forward to make himself visible.
"Are you accustomed to staying here?"
"No. Everywhere I go, I see a big crowd of people."
Le Mountain is still the best. The place is sparsely populated and at the mountain foothills, there are only a few families staying there. Unlike this Long Feng Restaurant where every day the business is extremely good with people coming and going, making a lot of noise.
Dong Fang Tang chuckled. He knew that she had lived in the mountains for a long time and she was used to being in a quiet and secluded environment. So staying in this Long Feng Restaurant was indeed difficult for her but because she had stayed for such a long time in the mountains. Through time, she had developed into a cold person with a habit of alienating herself from other people.
His black eyes gently gazed at her little elegant face and thought to himself. She would never know that at this moment when she is frowning, showing a complaining expression, compared to her cold and blank expression she had when she first arrived.......she looks more approachable and even more.......attractive.
"Thank you for agreeing to help Dong Mei."
He knew at that time, her unfinished words were to let him know she would be leaving and if Dong Mei had not pleaded with her to stay back, she would be leaving in the morning.
"Don't mention this again." This was the reason why she was feeling angry with herself and sitting here late in the night.
"I didn't expect such a young lady like you will have the knowledge to deliver a baby. It is really surprising."
With her knowledge learned from her family, her ability was not any less than his and she deserved to be the daughter of 'Weird Doctor'.
"Dong Fang Tang, are you underestimating me?"
Her eyebrows lifted slightly and her eyes looked askance at him as if to say ~~ If you dare to say yes, she will not forgive him easily.
"I don't dare." Dong Fang Tang smiled and looked at her intently. "It would actually be a pity if you were to hide in the mountains with your talent. I wonder whether you would like to work with me and make an effort to help people."
"Dong Fang Tang, I'm very sorry. I don't have such a great ambition as yours."
She stood up and gave him a look. She had said before, she did not have his magnanimous heart and enthusiasm for saving the world. She did not want to discuss this any further and walked away without thinking deeply as to what he actually meant.
He watched as she left disappearing into the darkness. Dong Fang Tang shook his head and sighed. His eyes were dark and unpredictable.
***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***
As always, in the backyard of Long Feng Restaurant, either standing or sitting, several patients were waiting in line to seek medical advice. Dong Fang Tang who always had a gentle smiling face, was busy writing out prescriptions while Zhang Sheng was responsible for distributing hot tea to everyone.
"Doctor Dong Fang, is Miss Ruan also a doctor? It is said that her skill is very good and when Dong Mei gave birth, Miss Ruan had helped her to deliver the child."
Auntie Wang curiously asked Dong Fang Tang while he was writing out a prescription with his head bowed down.
"That's right. Xiang Yin's skill is not inferior to mine."
He looked up with a smile and replied. His words held hidden gentleness which made these people who were experienced in life, looked at each other in astonishment.
As soon as he made this remark, everyone understood what was going on and they were even more curious about Ruan Xiang Yin.
"Doctor Dong Fang."
A stooping old lady holding a walking stick supported by a pretty young girl walked in.
"Grandmother Sun, why are you here?"
When he saw the old lady, he quickly stood up to meet her and helped her to sit down.
"Doctor Dong Fang, this old woman came here especially to thank you. Since I broke my leg, I've troubled you to check on me every day and personally change my medicine. This old woman does not know how to thank you. This is old woman's granddaughter, Liang Yu and I want her to stay by Doctor Dong Fang's side. What does Doctor Dong Fang think about this?"
What?! Everyone had heard her words. Gasps of shock could be heard. Everyone widened their eyes and perked up their ears.
This was more like a match-maker sending over a gift and she was directly sending a girl to Dong Fang Tang. The people held their breath and waited, wondering how the usually good-tempered Dong Fang Tang would reply.
Dong Fang Tang wrinkled his eyebrows and his handsome face showed his dilemma. However, he still answered in his calm gentle voice and spoke without hesitation. "Grandmother Sun, thank you for your kindness. It is the duty of a doctor to help people. Please don't keep it in your heart."
"No! No! Doctor Dong Fang's kindness towards this old woman is too great. Doctor Dong Fang did not only heal this old woman's leg, you've also healed the ailments in my old body and I really don't know how to repay you but can only give you, my eldest and most beloved granddaughter. Let her stay by your side to serve and take care of you."
Grandmother Sun was extremely insistent. After receiving someone's grace, naturally, she had to repay. Moreover, if her granddaughter could stay beside Dong Fang Tang, it was also a blessing for her granddaughter.
All this while, the little girl who kept her head lowered, now raised her head. The delicate little face looked shyly at Dong Fang Tang and said.
"Doctor Dong Fang, Liang Yu is willing to serve you. Please accept me to fulfill my grandmother's wish."
This time, everyone was dumbstruck. Using this ruthless trick, it was obvious that Grandmother Sun wanted her granddaughter to follow Dong Fang Tang or it should be said she wanted her granddaughter to be married into Dong Fang Family. How will the kind-hearted Doctor Dong Fang deal with this matter?
"Miss Liang Yu......."
The dilemma on Dong Fang Tang's handsome face became even more obvious. When he was struggling in his mind on how he should refuse when a cold voice sounded.
"Dong Fang Tang will not promise you."
As the voice was heard, a soft shadow came out from the corner.
Ruan Xiang Yin who had just left the kitchen and was thinking of coming to the backyard to take a look but did not expect to overhear such absurdity.
Can these people actually use grace to make threats against others?
The good-tempered Dong Fang Tang was placed in a difficult situation and when she heard the last sentence, an unknown fire rose in her chest. She could not help but made herself visible to everyone.
"Xiang Yin......"
When Dong Fang Tang saw her, a light flashed in his black eyes and a gentle smile appeared on his face. He was surprised.
At this moment she had appeared but shouldn't she be in the bedchamber with Dong Mei? He knew she was angry with him for arbitrarily making promises on her behalf to treat patients. So the time when he was treating his patients, she would never appear in the backyard but how come this time she appeared and also said those words?
"Sister Xiang Yin."
Zhang Zhen happily ran to her side with a smiling face and looked straight at her. Although Sister Xiang Yin always had a cold expression on her face and also she did not like to acknowledge people but in his little heart, he knew she was a good person. This time, her appearance was really just right and she would definitely be able to help Third Brother extricate himself from this mess.
"Dong Fang Tang, didn't you say you want me to accompany you into the mountains to collect herbs? Quick, let's go."
Ruan Xiang Yin coldly rested her eyes on one old and one young......and then swept her cold eyes over everyone in the backyard. Lastly, her cold eyes rested on the girl called Liang Yu and then she shifted her eyes away again.
"Everyone, I'm sorry. I've to attend to something important. Today's consultation time is up. For the others, please come back early tomorrow. Please leave now."
Dong Fang Tang informed the crowd of people and before the people could respond, he had left with Ruan Xiang Yin, leaving behind the crowd of astonished people including both the grandmother and granddaughter.
"Who actually is that girl?"
Grandmother Sun asked the crowd in bewilderment. Looking at the disappointment on the face of her granddaughter, she just wanted to find out the relationship between the girl and Dong Fang Tang.
"That girl should be Miss Ruan. Just now, when Doctor Dong Fang mentioned her, his expression was very gentle and she should be the person Doctor Dong Fang likes. It is said that she is also a doctor and she was the one who helped Dong Mei to deliver her child. Now looking at the both of them, they are also going up the mountains to gather herbs and they are a perfect match for marital harmony in the future. Practicing medicine for salvation......this can be said to be a blessing for the people!"
After Auntie Wang had seen Ruan Xiang Yin, she felt that the two people really matched each other. The both of them were skilled medical practitioners and there was no one that was better suited to each other than them. Although Ruan Xiang Yin gave people a feeling of being cold and proud with an air of detachment but Dong Fang Tang was warm and gentle. The two of them complemented each other.
In the end, Grandmother Sun had to drop the idea of match-making and pulling her granddaughter with her, she left in disappointment while the rest of the people who stayed behind, discussed among themselves the matter concerning Dong Fang Tang and Ruan Xiang Yin. Then the matter between them was quickly spread like wildfire by the people.
***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***
"Dong Fang Tang, you are an extremely good person. If you had been put into a difficult situation why didn't you directly refuse them?"
Outside the city of Gang Ling, ten miles to the East was a mountain call Luo Yun Mountains, at a place where Dong Fang Tang usually gather his herbs.
At this moment, the two people were climbing up the mountain path that twisted like the intestines of a sheep. All along the way, Ruan Xiang Yin had a cold expression on her face until she could not tolerate any longer and started to scold him.
Dong Fang Tang's face with his usual gentle smile, stared at her angry little face with his black sparkling eyes and his lips instantly curved into a deeper smile.
"I did refuse but I tried to do it in a way that would not make it too embarrassing for others. After all, the other person came with good intentions."
From the moment she appeared to save him until this moment, she is here to gather herbs with him, he had never imagined she would willingly come here with him. With this thought in mind, the smile on his face subconsciously deepened a bit more.
"What you mean is that the way I treated those two people, the grandmother and granddaughter, made them very embarrassed and sad? Or should it be said that I should not have appeared to sabotage your blessing? It seems I have done a deed that was irrelevant."
Ruan Xiang Yin halted her footsteps, her bright eyes blazed with fury, shining like clear crystals. Her face tightened and she glared at him. If she had known, she would not have bothered to help him at all.
Facing her anger, Dong Fang Tang shook his head and sighed. He looked on with tenderness at the unique charm displayed on her little face which made him unable to take his eyes off her.
"No, it's not like that. Don't be angry. I'm very grateful that you were there to help me with the problem."
Even though he likes to see her angry expression but to avoid making her leave abruptly, he still had to adopt a soft and comforting manner to placate her.
She tightened her pretty face without speaking another word, she turned around and walked forward.
Behind her, Dong Fang Tang sighed and quickly followed. The two of them, each gathered their own herbs and did not speak again.
Ruan Xiang Yin was able to gather several herbs in succession......Elderberry, Chamomile, Sage.......sullenly, she only concentrated on picking the herbs and did not realize that she was moving further and further away from Dong Fang Tang. On the contrary, while Dong Fang Tang was gathering herbs, he was watching her closely.
It is sheep's hooves!
Her eyes unconsciously shone brightly. This herb is beneficial for blood and has a wide range of uses. She only concentrated on gathering this herb and did not notice the soil under her feet was relatively soft. When she reached out her hand to pull the plant, her feet slipped and as a cry escaped from her lips, she glided down the hill slope.
"Xiang Yin! !"
When Dong Fang Tang heard her cry out, he raised his head and looked. The expression on his face changed dramatically and quickly he threw down his medicine basket. He jumped up and quickly ran down the hill slope. Fortunately, he did not use much of his energy before he found her mid-way on the hill slope.
A fallen tree trunk had broken her fall and saved her from the danger of tumbling down to the foot of the hill.
Dong Fang Tang cradled the unconscious person in his arms. When he caught sight of the red and swollen spot on her forehead, his chest tightened and using his big hand, he gently wiped off the dirt on her face. Then he anxiously and lightly called next to her ear.
"Xiang Yin, wake up!"
A low moan came from the lips of the unconscious Ruan Xiang Yin and when the pair of bright eyes slowly opened, she met a pair of black eyes filled with worry.
"Dong Fang Tang......."
"Xiang Yin, quick tell me.......where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Dong Fang Tang hugged her and ignored the taboo on a male and a female having close proximity, he anxiously groped all over her body. He was really scared by the redness and the large swell on her forehead and he was afraid there would be other injuries on her that were invisible to the eye.
"Stop! Dong Fang Tang, what are you doing?"
Although Ruan Xiang Yin's forehead was still painful, her mind was still clear. However, when she felt his improper actions, she quickly pushed him away. With both her hands on the ground, she tried to stand up but when she pushed herself up, a sharp pain in her left foot shot up. Immediately, her face became white as paper, her delicate body trembled and the next moment, she fell into Dong Fang Tang's arms once again.
"Is your foot sprained?"
All this while, Dong Fang Tang who was paying close attention to her, disregarded her struggles and helped her to sit down on the fallen tree trunk. Following the direction of her eyes, he guessed her left foot was injured, so he bent down and took off her shoes and socks. With a look, his face instantly turned gloomy.
When he saw her snow-white jaded foot had become extremely red and swollen, he knew her foot was injured badly. Then he helped her to put back on her shoes and socks.
"Just bear with the pain. We'll return right away."
His heart hurt as he looked at her appearance with her wrinkled eyebrows, her little face twisted in pain and biting her lips. Without asking for her approval, immediately he picked her up with one arm around her back and the other arm beneath her knees and using his flying skills, he anxiously hurried back to Long Feng Restaurant.
Throughout the journey, even though he was very gentle, he could still hear her voice hissing in pain.